Squatters have gone (From Falmouth Packet)

Squatters have gone

5:50pm Tuesday 13th March 2007

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A group of squatters who moved into a £450,000 bungalow in Maenporth have been given 28 days to vacate the property.

Justin Sparks and two other friends moved into the bungalow at West Bay after it had been empty for 29 years.

Mr Sparks defended his actions and said that he simply needed somewhere to live and had done extensive renovation work on the bungalow.

During a hearing at Truro county court the judge made a possession order in favour of the owner of the bungalow, Christina Walker, which means the squatters now have 28 days to leave.

Despite preparing a lengthy defence case the squatters did not attend the court hearing but an agent representing the solicitors of the owners of the bungalow was present.

Just days after the court hearing the bungalow appeared to have been completely abandoned by it's "tenants". The property had been emptied, there were no cars on the drive and the only evidence of the squatters ever having been there is the work they had done on the garden.

Attached to the gate at the front of the bungalow was a letter which appeared to be a possession order telling them they had to vacate the premises in 28 days but it had not even been opened.

All attempts by the Packet to contact Mr Sparks were unsuccessful.

The eviction of squatters has divided opinion among people living nearby. Packet reporter Emma Goodfellow went on to the streets of Falmouth with a video camera to find out what local people think. To hear their views click the Play Video link above.

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